yes, but i think they exercise your brain more at first, when you are learning to play the games. after a while, when playing suduko, it becomes more of a systematic pattern and doesn't seem to use so much brain power. just time.

Sudoku to survive
A simple game of sudoku could trigger the activation of ‘survival genes’ in your brain, making cells live longer and helping to fight disease. According to a study conducted at the University of Edinburgh, unused genes in brain cells are activated during stimulation like that caused by completing the puzzles. “We’ve found that a group of these [survival] genes can make the active brain cells far healthier than lazy, inactive cells,” says Giles Hardingham, study author.
But some health analyzers are worried about the physiological hazards as players often remain stationary for hours and hence there ill-benefits for the body in physical sense.

Absolutely. I've been doing research on successful aging. What I've found is that it's extremely important to eat well, exercise, have a varied routine - do something new and exciting. But it is also suggested that doing word searches, soduko, crossword puzzles helps lubricate the brain. Meaning, it gives it a chance to work so it doesn't get rusty. It's the old concept of "use it or lose it."

Yes.
I also wonder what makes someone so good at crossword puzzles. I'm usually good at providing about 7 or 8 answers when my wife will usually complete the whole puzzle minus the help I provide for the sport questions!
Was it because I was'nt that interested in reading while growing up? Or yes you guessed it. Played alot of sports as a kid!!!

When I first saw the game I thought what a boring piece of *** decided to investigate what it's all about and am now addicted, it helps develop eye and brain coordination, you get faster the more you play and it becomes a memory game.

I've only solved the hard once.
I can usually nail the daily paper medium 80% of the time.
It's all logical deduction.
I never do the easy ones now because it's a waste of my time.
In addition I always do the daily crossword and just about always complete in less than 25 minutes and I usually do the Jumbo in 6 minutes or less unless I give up on it.

I do. IMHO - we all tend to go where we feel comfortable and familiar. We all go to what we're naturally good at. Anything that takes me out of that zone is a good thing. Sudoku is one of those things.

I think that logic and puzzle games keep your brain working and makes life easier in the long run. It is exercise for the brain and it keeps the mind young. My great-grandma kept doing crosswords and word-finds until she was 98 years old. She finally had to stop because she was going blind.

Not the easy ones.
When I find an easy Sudoku in the newspaper I try to solve it in order from 1 to 9 to make it harder.
I play that game every day and I really admire a challenging game because I really get a chance to see what I can do.
This has got to be one of the purest logic puzzles ever created. It's just numbers but each game has a personality of it's own and that is the true charm that comes in this 9 by 9 only one combo per line genius game. Best number puzzle ever created.
I hope its creator is rich for his masterpiece.

Absolutely! And once you've gotten to the point where you don't feel like you even have to try to do well at it, it is in reality helping even more. At that point, the brain needs exercise to sustain the quick response process that you've developed within the game. That systematic pattern that develops within the brain while you play continues to evolve and apply to other areas of the brain even when the game no longer seems a challenge.

I found this interesting little article about doing a Sudoku puzzle each day. It's very interesting. I thought I was just wasting more time when I did these before breakfast. Now I'm getting smarter and keeping my brain going:-)
Researchers rank solving sudoku puzzles daily among the top ten non-traditional and alternative ways to boosts brain power. Other brain boosting moves include high-protein diets, listening to classical music, and lots of rest. These are simple but are rather difficult to follow because of budget limitations, personal preferences, and lifestyle. This is the advantage sudoku games holds over other brain boosters. They are accessible from newspapers, books, and even the Internet. They are also workable between breaks or at any spare time. So every time someone chastises you for doing sudoku again, kindly explain and hope that they pick up the habit too.
Though sudoku puzzles are not mathematical problems, solving the puzzles requires the most basic tool of mathematics and science: logic. Since the puzzles entail the use of logic, common sense, and concentration, the brain is put out of the stupor of doing routine, mundane tasks. In other words, your brain actually gets a break and a good work-out. Studies reveal that the more the brain uses its skills, the better it works. Brains that get more exercise are determined to be more active, and its cells are healthier. Researchers even associate sudoku brain exercises to physical exercise. They stress that just as physical exercise keeps muscle loss at bay, sudoku exercise keeps brain cells from dying and also encourages better brain function. Education is important, but studies actually show that students who do mental workouts like sudoku have higher IQs than students who do not. This only shows that doses of sudoku are more than just ways to pass time. They actually help in improving your ability to comprehend more complex ideas.
Ian Robertson, a neuroscientist, facilitated a research among the elderly with the premise that decreased mental ability is not inevitable with the right stimulation. The research included two groups of elderly people: the first group solved sudoku puzzles as part of their routine, while the second did not. After some time, their IQ levels were tested and compared to their test results before the experiment. The sudoku-solving group was found to have increased their mental abilities by a significant percentage while the other group showed no change. Dr. Robertson cited a similar research wherein 3,000 people, aged 65-94, were found to have increased their mental capabilities and age by as much as 14 years, just by ten sessions of brain boosting exercise like sudoku.
Other experts agree with these findings, saying that solving challenging mind games like sudoku puzzles inhibit or prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease and memory loss. Health trends also show that adults with demanding, and intellectually challenging jobs benefit from better mental function when they age. Sudoku functions just like these jobs because it requires brain exertions.
As it is, experts advise adults to encourage children to solve puzzles like sudoku to start mental improvement earlier in life. Sudoku exercises are actually adopted by some schools to stimulate thinking and foster better academic performance of their students. So instead of letting kids watch TV, or read comics, hand them sudoku puzzles. Then, both you and your kids can defend your love of sudoku to those poor souls who do not understand the beauty, joy, and benefits of solving it.

Yes, I love that so puzzle so much. Since I have been doing those puzzles I feel like my concentration has increased. Which is a great thing when you have to study often for important tests or whatnot.

actually i think it improves the brain a great deal. I think that if you use your brain daily in that manner that your brain will remain healthy longer. I think any kind of critical thinking that gets your mind off the television or computer will help your brain.

I used to hate train and bus rides, not anymore, I even look forward to them with my pencil and Soduku and KenKen puzzles. Only problem is the risk of missing my stop. I have even trained myself not to miss them and this is an added boost to 'attention' skills.
Absolutely great for the brains (left and right, front and back, up and down, diagonally etc.o:!)
[ODia] oumardia@yshoo.com

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